Family of six save thousands and increase annual holidays from one to five with ‘magical’ home-swaps across the world

A family of six have saved thousands of pounds and increased their annual holidays from one to five by completing “magical” home-swaps across the world where they “don’t have to pay for the accommodation”.

Catriona Lysaght, 44, a speech and language therapist who lives in Cork, Ireland, has travelled to dozens of places, including France, Amsterdam and London, since joining the home-swapping platform HomeExchange in September 2023.

The platform allows users to exchange their homes over dates of mutual choosing, or if a member lends their home without reciprocity their guest can offer GuestPoints to thank them for their hospitality.

Catriona and her husband Donal, 49, a secondary school teacher, have four children who they do not wish to name, and they have completed 15 exchanges since April 2024, with three more planned for this year.

Along with a “special” stay in Paris, Catriona said the trip to London over New Year was particularly memorable, as fireworks are illegal other than for licensed professionals in Ireland and they could see “thousands” from the house.

While it is difficult to specify an exact figure, Catriona estimates they have saved 7,000 to 8,000 euros (around £6,100 to £7,000) on accommodation over the last couple of years, and they now go on more holidays than ever.

“Before HomeExchange, how many holidays would we have gone on a year? It would have been one,” Catriona told PA Real Life.

“I’d say we do four or five holidays a year now… and I reckon HomeExchange saves about a third of the price of each holiday for us.

“You still have to pay for the flights and figure out your transport when you’re there, and your food, but you don’t have to pay for the accommodation and it makes it so much more achievable.”

Catriona explained that, prior to joining HomeExchange, which costs £190 for an annual membership, the family typically went on holiday once a year.

With Donal working as a teacher and the children attending school, they often found themselves “limited” to peak summer times, making it more expensive and competitive to find accommodation for a family of six.

“We would have gone on one holiday a year, either within Ireland, or maybe to see my sister in the UK, or somewhere reasonably tame,” she explained.

Catriona heard about HomeExchange for the first time at a dinner party with friends and, after some initial hesitation, thought: “Actually, that’s something I could do.”

She said home-swapping “sounded exciting, different and achievable” – she just needed some time to “get the house in order” first.

After signing up in September 2023 and listing their “authentic” five-bedroom house, which is in the “wilds of the Irish countryside”, Catriona said she has never looked back.

While she initially found it “bizarre” sleeping in another person’s bed while strangers stayed in their home, she said it soon becomes normal and you “forget about it”.

“One of the reasons it appealed was because of the fact that you’re often swapping with families who have similar interests to you,” she said.

“You’re not trying to be a show home, you’re just a family home.

“Plus, when exchanging with other families, you can find out in advance what equipment they have – whether they have a highchair, a cot – and you can even swap cars.

“Some have surfboards and wetsuits, so you don’t need to think of everything or rent everything, which makes it so much more affordable and adventurous too.”

Since April 2024, Catriona and her family have completed 15 exchanges, all of which have been “wonderful”.

Four of them were direct swaps to Bordeaux, London, Sligo and Norfolk, and five were done using GuestPoints to travel to Paris, Belfast and Portstewart in Northern Ireland, Kinvara in Ireland and Amsterdam.

One was a reciprocal exchange to Brittany but non-simultaneous, and for the other five, the family have hosted guests from France, Spain and Australia to increase their GuestPoints.

If a home-swap is completed without reciprocity, Catriona said she and the family will often stay at her parents’ home or with Donal’s parents to make the house free for guests.

“Looking back through all the trips we have done is lovely actually, it has really brought home to me how much we have gained from it,” she said.

Catriona explained that their exchanges are usually five nights or more, with one of “the most special” trips being a home-swap to Paris last year.

She and her husband took their two eldest daughters to stay in a “tiny one-bedroom apartment” located above a cafe, and they visited popular tourist attractions, such as the Eiffel Tower and Notre-Dame.

She described the trip as “absolutely magical” and said staying in someone’s apartment helped them save money and allowed for “real family bonding time”.

“What they say about Paris in the spring is absolutely true,” Catriona said.

“It was just gorgeous, I loved it… and there’s no way we would have done it without HomeExchange.

“Those French doors – they were wooden, the paint is peeling off – and you open them up and they have this solid, clunky sound.

“You feel like you’re a Parisian coming home, like you should have baguettes under your arms, all the stereotypes, and then you look around at the fashion, and you think, OK, I’m definitely not a Parisian.”

Catriona said home-swapping has allowed her to make new friends and get inspiration for decor at her own home.

One trip gave her children the opportunity to look after some animals and one of her daughters learned to swim in one of the pools.

She said: “Another standout was a trip we took to Bordeaux last summer.

“The house was perfect for us, there were rabbits and gerbils for the kids to look after, a heated swimming pool, and full immersion in a French village. It was heaven.

“This family had a whole cupboard full of board games… and there was one particular board game we’d never come across before.

“We played it the whole holiday as a family and every time I think of that board game I just have such fond memories.

“It’s such a small thing, but you wouldn’t get that in a hotel, you wouldn’t get that in a rental house. You only get that by staying in somebody’s home.”

Catriona has three upcoming exchanges this year, including Sydney and Tasmania in March for GuestPoints, meaning there are “no accommodation costs” for the trip, and a reciprocal exchange in France.

While home-swapping does require work to prepare and maintain your own home, she would encourage anyone to try it, particularly as other families often have recommendations that you would not find elsewhere.

She loves being able to have a “more authentic holiday abroad” with home-swapping and the “cost effectiveness” of it.

“Most homes or most families have some recommendations of things that they like to do in the locality,” she said.

“You get hidden little nuggets of places to visit, and little charming spots that you wouldn’t hear of.

“They’re not in the guidebooks, and they’re even more special because they’re not in the guidebooks.

“I find I always come home from a home exchange feeling energised and enthusiastic about my own life in some way.”